7 - Brussels sprouts: Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera DC.

Abstract

Brussels sprouts is a cultivated Brassica in which the marketable parts of the plant are the swollen axillary buds known as “sprouts” or “buttons.” It is generally classified as Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera DC. The origin of this plant remains obscure and has been ascribed to both savoy cabbage and various forms of kale. Brussels sprouts are best adapted to temperate regions of the world and require a long growing season with cool summers and mild winters to achieve high productivity. Brussels sprouts are diploid (2n = 18) and have been little studied cytologically. The chromosomes are very small and no karyotype analyses have been published. The inheritance of most characters of Brussels sprouts has not been studied in detail apart from self-incompatibility and the biometrics of some quantitative characters. This chapter discusses the objectives of breeding of Brussels sprouts. A wide range of pests and diseases afflict Brassica crops, but the relative importance varies from crop to crop. For Brussels sprouts, resistance to foliar fungal diseases is the highest priority. Brussels sprouts are mainly cross-pollinating and have a sporophytic self-incompatibility system. The chapter reviews various methods for breeding Brussels sprouts.